Business School students were invited to contribute ideas to highlight their break room mural designed and painted by Arts Alive Chicago artist, Cyd Smillie. “Unlock Your Potential” is the motto of the school and when completed the lyrics to a rap song written by two of the students are painted along the lower edge. The … Continue reading NWBC Mural→

After the completion of the Rafael Lopez mural on Addison at Avondale OIPA was eager to have the north wall also beautifully appointed. Artist Tony Sparrow answered the call from OIPA president Anna Sobor to design a mural based on the paper cutting arts of Poland and central America. The Polish community of artists particularly … Continue reading Crosscuts Mural→

While painting the “ill fated” Paschke mural Arts Alive Chicago artist Cyd Smillie was stopped by an area parent and asked to please paint a SCIENCE MURAL for his children who walk through the underpass on Ainsley to go to school every day. A year later funds were collected and that daughter Abigail was … Continue reading Re:Thinking Mural→

Hep Cat, designed by Tony Sparrow, was the first “art for art sake” mural done in conjunction with Arts Alive Chicago (then in transition and identified as Arts Alive 4 Chicago because the name AAC was already taken). This is when Jerry Rowgowski and Shannon Kemp joined the team and one of the murals the … Continue reading HepCat Mural→

In response to a social media post, Arts Alive Chicago (then Arts Alive/45) painted the “End of Watch” mural, designed by Jill Arena and painted by Cyd Smillie, to honor all the fallen officers in the City of Chicago. At the dedication family and fellow officers were invited to fill in the badge number of … Continue reading End of Watch Mural→

Arts Alive Chicago (then Arts Alive/45) partnered with area poet Yvonne Zipter to do a poetry walk through the Six Corners neighborhood for Chicago Artists Month 2012 titled Block-By Block. When Yvonne planned to read a poem about running in the morning fog with her dogs, we asked the building owner of the KLEE if we could … Continue reading Running with Dogs Mural→

In honor of the first responders and the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, Jill Arena designed and Cyd Smillie painted the First Responders mural around the corner from the Fire Station on Milwaukee. During the painting of the mural one little boy pointed out to his grandfather “Look Papa, Lady liberty” and the grandfather … Continue reading First Responders Mural→

The first mural by Arts Alive Chicago (then Arts Alive/45) –designed by Jill Arena and sponsored by the neighboring Copernicus Foundation, this mural served as a welcoming gateway to the Jefferson Park community before it was covered over by the vinyl Paschke Mural produced by the Rabb Family Foundation. This was also the beginning of … Continue reading Jeff Park Jazz Mural→